Drug Enforcement Administration

Opioid dealer that caused deaths of two people going to prison for more than 21 years

Sold heroin and fentanyl that was branded “Fire”

BUFFALO, N.Y. – DEA New York Division Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan and U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. today announced that Aaron J. McDuffie, a/k/a “G”, 24, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of distribution of heroin and butyryl fentanyl causing death, and distribution of fentanyl, butyryl fentanyl, and furanyl fentanyl causing death, was sentenced to serve 262 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Misha A. Coulson and Wei Xiang, who handled the case, stated that on June 27, 2015, the defendant met with a repeat drug customer identified as “A.E,” a 24-year-old Cheektowaga man. McDuffie sold A.E. a quantity of powder that the defendant advertised as “fire,” a mixture that contained heroin and butyryl fentanyl. A.E. died as a result of using the drugs McDuffie provided to him.

On Nov. 23, 2016, McDuffie met with another repeat drug customer identified as “D.M,” a 34-year-old West Seneca man, and sold him a quantity of powder that the defendant advertised once again as “fire.” This mixture contained fentanyl, butyryl fentanyl, and furanyl fentanyl. D.M. also died as a result of using the drugs McDuffie provided to him.

On Nov. 30, 2016, law enforcement officers arrested McDuffie leaving his residence in Buffalo. The defendant was on his way to distribute a quantity of powder that contained fentanyl, butyryl fentanyl, and furanyl fentanyl. Under McDuffie’s’s living room couch, officers recovered a Hi-Point, .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun that was loaded with eight rounds of .40 caliber ammunition.

The sentencing is result of an investigation by the DEA, Cheektowaga Police Department and the West Seneca Police Department.